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Stannard looks to continue on an upward curve before joining Mitchelton-SCOTT in 2019

Tue 6 Feb 2018

18-year-old Australian prospect Robert Stannard will be taking the next step up to cycling’s WorldTour with Mitchelton-SCOTT at the start of the 2019 season as he follows in the footsteps of former U23 teammate Lucas Hamilton.

The 2017 Rhone-Alpes Isere stage winner is another young rider with enormous potential and after an excellent 2017 season racing with team now known as Mitchelton-BikeExchange the Sydney-born Stannard will continue with the Continental level team through 2018 before making the jump up to the professional ranks.

A multi-talented rider with strong time-trialling and climbing ability, but also all-round skills that include a knack for the sprints and fast rolling stages that require a high level of endurance.

Stannard has a strong mentality that came to the fore numerous times last season in the selfless and successful support he has provided for former teammates Hamilton and Jai Hindley at races like the Baby Giro d’Italia.

“I really enjoyed last season with Mitchelton-SCOTT,” said Stannard. “And I am really looking forward to working with the team again in 2018. Last year the opportunities I’ve was given were second to none and I have already surpassed my expectations of what I hoped to achieve as a first year U23.”

“This year I want to build on my success of the last season and continue my development in order to be ready for the WorldTour in 2019.

“Mitchelton-SCOTT has proven very successful in helping to develop younger riders in the past and to have the chance to be part of that development and learn from the experienced riders and managers they have is an awesome opportunity.

“I feel that for a young Australian cyclist there is no better pathway, it’s the perfect environment to become a professional cyclist.”

Stannard kicked off 2017 with second place in the individual time trial at the Australian championships before heading to Europe and racking up numerous top ten finishes and podium spots at one-day races and the Baby Giro.

“Robert is being rated as good as we’ve seen coming out of the Australian development program,” explained sport director Matt White. “He is very, very versatile. He can do everything, sprint, time-trial and climb and he is only 18-years-old.”

“That’s the reason why he is not in the professional team now, he is too young. However just like with Rob Power and Caleb Ewan we have identified that he is a super talent and we want to have the first crack with him as a professional when the time is right.”

Stannard will race the Dubai Tour with Mitchelton-BikeExchange starting today.

Robert StannardDate of Birth: 16th September 1998 (18)Nationality: AustralianPlace of Birth: Sydney